Rescuers in Tibet have brought hundreds of trekkers to safety after a powerful blizzard stranded them near the eastern face of Mount Everest, Chinese state media reported Sunday, as unusually heavy rain and snow battered the Himalayas.
As of Sunday, 350 trekkers had reached the small township of Qudang, while contact with the remaining 200-plus trekkers had been made, China Central Television (CCTV) reported.
Visitors to the remote valley of Karma, which leads to the eastern Kangshung face of Everest, were in the hundreds this week, taking advantage of an eight-day National Day holiday in China.
Snowfall in the valley, which lies at an elevation averaging 4,200 metres (13,779 feet), began on Friday evening and persisted throughout Saturday.
The remaining trekkers will arrive in Qudang in stages under the guidance and assistance of rescuers organized by the local government, CCTV reported.
